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Dodgers in talks with free-agent hurler Greinke

Dodgers in talks with free-agent hurler Greinke

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MLB.com looks at Greinke's value 0:46

MLB.com's Richard Justice and Jack Morris believe that Zack Greinke will command top dollar on the free-agent market

By Ken Gurnick
/
MLB.com |

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti confirmed the club has graduated from due diligence to negotiating for top free-agent target Zack Greinke, but he gave no indication a deal was imminent or likely.

If that is understood correctly, the club might have made a formal offer for the former Cy Young Award winner, who is speculated to be considering only the Dodgers or Rangers as a landing spot.

Colletti said, however, that Greinke has not paralyzed his club's ability to move on other pitchers, having stated that his offseason intent is to land two dominant pitchers to slot in behind ace Clayton Kershaw in a loaded starting rotation.

"That's still the goal," he said.

The Dodgers' exclusive negotiating window to sign Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin expires Sunday. Negotiations continue with his agent, Scott Boras, although those talks are expected to go down to the 2 p.m. PT deadline.

Colletti said there are "two or three" other available pitchers who would satisfy his goal. Two are believed to be free agent Anibal Sanchez and National League Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey, who would require a trade from the Mets. The Dodgers also had their eyes on James Shields, Cliff Lee and Felix Hernandez.

On the Greinke situation, Colletti tried to find an analogy without revealing details of the talks when asked if he was knocking on the door of a deal.

"We're not on the front lawn," he said. "We're barely out of the car at the curb. It's better than driving around the neighborhood looking for the house. We know where the house is, we can't get out of the car."

That said, Colletti conceded that the description of "moving closer" to a deal "doesn't mean anything is done. To me, it's done or not done."

Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.